Signed by Governor Eric Holcomb

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to adopt a conference report that establishes a budget for 2017 to 2018

Highlights:

• Authorizes a 1.7% increase in operating funds for college tuition (Sec. 9).

• Establishes a $5 million fund to research and develop elementary and secondary school student participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields (Sec. 9).

• Authorizes a 6.8% increase in operating expenses for the Family and Children fund (Sec. 8).

• Appropriates $15 million to incentivise direct flights from international and regional airports in Indiana, establish a new port, and support activities that promote international trade (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes state expenditures for buildings, training equipment and supplies for the law enforcement academy (Sec. 44).

• Establishes the Next Level Indiana fund as an investment product for state employees’ deferred compensation plans and requires some the fund’s proceeds to go towards the provision of highways, roads and bridges in Indiana (Sec. 50).

• Establishes the Indiana Tourism Task Force, which will consist of 5 tourism marketing professionals, to study the operating structures of other states’ tourism departments and submit recommendations to the legislature by August 15, 2018 (Sec. 62).

• Establishes a grant program to help decrease veteran homelessness, which may include up to 9 months of rental assistance (Sec. 76).

Full Bill Text